With reloaded roster, Mansfield Summit aims to defend state championship
On Feb. 10, Mansfield Summit had a slow start and fell 50-45 to district rival Mansfield Timberview.
The Jags had more games left in the regular season before the playoffs, when it would aim to defend its state title. But since that moment, Summit has looked untouchable.
The Jags went on a seven-game win streak, which includes Tuesday’s 52-35 win over Lucas Lovejoy in a Class 5A Division II state semifinal. The stretch for Summit has been nothing short of dominant, as playoff opponents have been bested by 17 points or more.
“Just being resilient and believing in each other,” head coach Emund Prichett said of the run. “Believing that our culture is strong enough to be able to be successful.”
Summit (33-6), however, will face its toughest challenge yet at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio when Beaumont United (36-3) takes the court.
“I just want them to do what they do every day,” Prichett said. “Play as hard as they can. Play for each other and believe in each other. Play hard, play tough and play together. We don’t need any superheroes.”
Since a non-district loss to Class 4A power Dallas Kimball, United has two losses, both in district play to Beaumont West Brook, the 2025 Class 5A Division I champion that will try to defend its title Saturday.
In the realm of Class 5A Division II squads in recent memory, United is an extraordinarily tough challenge. The program won titles in 2021 and 2022 and has made the state tournament in five of the past six seasons.
Summit has made the state tournament in three of the past four seasons.
The players powering the Jags are an unlikely group, as four key players from last season’s title game left or graduated. They had to reload and heal up the roster, but the challenge they faced was the same as before: Building a contender from ground zero.
The challenge “was figuring out who was on the roster early in the year,” Prichett said. “… Once we figured that out, it was going straight ahead and just trying to get better every day.”
The next man in line stepped up, and despite preseason expectations, Summit worked its way toward earning back the same respect. Ahead of the state title game, the Jags are ranked No. 6 in Class 5A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, while United is ranked No. 7.
And although Prichett passes the credit to his talented players, it’s undoubtedly one of the greatest coaching jobs in Dallas-Fort Worth.
That’s become common for Prichett, who is set to be honored by the UIL during the festivities this weekend at the Alamodome for being named the 2025 National Federation of State High School Associations Coach of the Year.
One of his strengths is fostering a positive culture centered on accountability.
“All kids have the same expectations when it comes to playing hard,” Prichett said. “The effort they give and the attitude they have. How they carry themselves — whether you’re scoring all the points or you’re not playing a minute.”
One of the players leading the charge, who didn’t play last year with a torn meniscus, is junior Jaxon Sneed. He is averaging a team-high 12 points.
Another player to watch is 6-foot-5 freshman Joseph Creal III, who already boasts an offer from UT-Arlington and has a lot of potential with his size and shotmaking ability.
“The sky is the limit,” Prichett said. “A tremendous player. Of course, everybody has things they need to work on. He is coachable, and he has the right backing to be able to close all these gaps and be one of the better players to come out of Summit High School.”
Emund Prichett II, the coach’s son, also has an improved role as a junior. And although it’s hard to take a step back and appreciate, coach Prichett said it’s an “awesome experience” guiding his son on the court.
“The impact of it is even greater as he gets older and I get older,” Prichett said. “I know we’ll look back on these moments and be able to cherish these experiences. … He is a great kid, and he is very coachable.”
Sneed, Josh Serunjoji and Javon Ross are the only seniors of the bunch. All three are productive but also bring “tremendous leadership,” Prichett said.
“Ross brings a lot of experience from being a starter in the championship last year,” Prichett said. “They are just all-around good kids. In the classroom and in the gym. It’s something our young kids can look up to. It’s what it takes to be an ultimate Jag.”
The challenge ahead is tough, and Prichett said he simply wants to see his team give their best effort.
“[United] has a great coach,” Prichett said. “They are tough. They have been in the moment. They understand winning. I just want to see us go out there and compete.”
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